Annual Report 2025
A Letter from the CEO and Board Chair
Throughout its 40+ years of existence, our organization has carried several names – Law Access, Access Group, and today, AccessLex Institute®. The iteration and evolution of those names did not originate from focus groups or branding consultants, nor were they randomly selected by the Board of Directors or its management team. Rather, each was deliberately chosen to communicate, with clarity and conviction, the fundamental purpose behind its founding and the core mission that drives us forward.
As this annual report demonstrates, AccessLex remains steadfast in its mission to empower the next generation of lawyers every step of the way, from admission to law school to admission to practice. Yet amid all our efforts and initiatives, creating access to legal education for people from all backgrounds remains our north star. As we often say, “Access is our first name.”
While fostering access for underrepresented populations has always been a formidable challenge, recent years have ushered in a sea change in the legal, regulatory, and political landscape. This new environment is not merely indifferent; it actively seeks to eliminate proven programs and methods to diversify legal education and the profession. The result? A chilling effect that discourages meaningful resistance to demands that are not grounded in law or reason which are being made by both public and private entities.
Moreover, 2025 saw the enactment of legislation that substantially reduced the availability of federal student loan financing and income-based repayment benefits. Coupled with executive branch actions to limit the reach of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, the cost of financing legal education is expected to increase, and access for aspiring lawyers without significant personal or family wealth may be more limited than it has been in decades.
Though we wish the world were a different place, AccessLex Institute exists to help law students and law schools meet the challenges of the present and future. But while the content of this report clearly reflects the commitment to our mission, it is our actions that speak the loudest.
We have not scrubbed our website and publications of words and phrases. We have not eliminated a single program that supports increasing diversity in support of our mission. Our actions – or inaction, in this case – are not intended to provoke, but stem from a belief that “pre-compliance” with perceived restrictions not grounded in current law would undermine the principles upon which AccessLex was founded and those upon which we operate today.
Instead, we have leaned in aggressively.
For example, our LexPostBacc pathway program, which remains fully compliant with the Students for Fair Admissions Supreme Court decision, has experienced challenges as universities have sought to manage retaliatory litigation, funding restrictions, and reputational risks, among other anxieties. So, we did what AccessLex has historically done when we identify a barrier to pursuing our mission – we powered through and created LexPostBacc Direct. This initiative maintains the same curriculum and success measures but removes institutional risk for law schools, allowing us to continue offering graduates a viable pathway to law school admission.
And, in partnership with the Association of American Law Schools, we convened 150 Deans and other law school leaders for The Access Imperative: Strengthening Legal Education Amid Challenges. This national Convening was intentionally designed to spark an ongoing, action-driven dialogue – one that equips law schools to navigate the current environment while continuing to fulfill their educational and institutional missions.
On the regulatory front, our Policy team’s work to positively influence the implementation of these changes continues unabated across the spectrum of the regulatory, political, and operational processes. In addition, AccessLex has joined with Equal Justice Works to co-lead the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Coalition, a group of more than 100 nonprofit and public service organizations working collaboratively to protect and strengthen PSLF.
We thank you for your continued support and confidence.
In sum, AccessLex is uniquely positioned as the charitable organization with the Reason, Resources, and Resolve to meet this moment, helping aspiring lawyers and our law school members succeed in any environment.
CHRISTOPHER P. CHAPMAN President and Chief Executive Officer
AccessLex Institute
ROBERT K. RASMUSSEN Chair, Board of Directors
AccessLex Institute
AccessLex Advocates…
This year, the pursuit of higher education in the United States was adversely impacted by significant legislation. In July, Congress passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), a sweeping budget reconciliation bill that decreased borrowing limits for professional and graduate students and eliminated the Grad PLUS Loan program. The bill has transformed the student loan landscape, hindering the efforts of those seeking advanced degrees.
Through it all, AccessLex Institute’s policy and financial experts have been at the forefront, responding to breaking news and providing resources for the legal education community through blog posts, briefs, letters to Congress, fact sheets, FAQs, social media content, webinars, and policy statements. Upon OBBBA’s passage, AccessLex developed the Student Aid Policy and Action Center, a webpage designed to better inform and prepare students and recent graduates amidst evolving changes to borrowing and repayment.
Providing vocal dissent against provisions in the bill, then pivoting to provide guidance and tools for borrowers, AccessLex continues to advocate for the increased accessibility and affordability of higher education.
Legislation and Advocacy
Holding fast to the Company’s core goal of supporting aspiring lawyers at each stage of their journey, AccessLex utilized partnerships, advocacy, and congressional outreach to deter legislation that threatened loan forgiveness or restricted borrowing options for those seeking an advanced degree.
Responding to efforts to limit Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), AccessLex joined with Equal Justice Works to co-lead the PSLF Coalition, which was successful in keeping changes to PSLF out of OBBBA and helping public service to remain an attainable career path for all.
In letters to Congress, AccessLex urged legislators not to make cuts to critical financing options such as Grad PLUS Loans, or IDR plans, and to reinstate projects that collected valuable higher education data such as the National Postsecondary Student Aid Study. An issue brief, Graduate Student Loans: How Caps Threaten Access, was developed to describe how provisions in OBBBA undermined the long-standing goals of the Higher Education Act by reducing equitable access to critical professions while also challenging the assumption that adding restrictions to federal student loans meaningfully lowers costs.
In addition, AccessLex weighed in on proposed Congressional legislation regarding child care for student-parents, subsidies for graduate and professional students, funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities and other minority-serving institutions, the simplification of the PSLF process, and more.
In light of targeted policy changes, Christopher P. Chapman, AccessLex President and CEO, appeared before the Department of Education (ED) in August. His testimony addressed the need to expand the definition of “Professional Student” while calling for the exclusion of repaid loans from lifetime limits on federal loans.
Looking ahead, focus has shifted to proposed regulations for enacting OBBBA , as well as updates to PSLF. In response, AccessLex has submitted recommendations directly to ED on these proposed changes.
Building Bar Skills Initiative
AccessLex Institute’s Building Bar Skills Initiative, founded in 2023, continues to support NextGen UBE preparation across all levels of law school with a uniquely innovative and useful approach that simultaneously expands the field of trained faculty and resources for the future bar exam.
In 2025, a second cohort of Module Building Teams, composed of academic success professionals and doctrinal faculty, created eight new Modules that provide AccessLex member law schools with free access to adaptable, classroom-tested curriculum to help faculty prepare students for the foundational skills tested on the NextGen UBE
Informed by learnings from the first cohort of authors and refined with even more complete, ready-made curriculum, the 2025 Modules cover upperlevel subjects and skills, including mixed-subject Modules that provide students with integrated exercises and formative assessments that instill both doctrinal knowledge and bar exam skills preparation.
Through commissioning Module Building Teams, AccessLex has supported and encouraged two cohorts of law faculty and academic success professionals towards greater investment in NextGen UBE preparation Contributor partners who have created Modules at law schools across the nation are now cultivating NextGen UBE knowledge among their colleagues by leading faculty workshops, presenting on panels, and advocating for the value of foundational skills preparation in the classroom.
The third cohort of Module Building Teams has been selected and work is underway to develop the next set of Modules, slated to launch in 2026.
Ashley London and David Nows , Duquesne University – Business Associations
Wendy Couture and John Hinton , University of Idaho – Business Associations
Brendan T. Beery and Brad Charles , Cooley Law School – Constitutional Law
Anne Alexander and Rigel Oliveri , University of Missouri – Constitutional Law
Benjamin Cover and Geoffrey Heeren , University of Idaho – Multi-Subject
Carrie Sanford and Terry Price , University of Washington – Multi-Subject
Richard Waugaman and Sha Hinds-Glick , Campbell University – Family Law
April Milburn-Knizner and Katherine Norton , Duquesne University – Family Law
AccessLex Institute’s engagement with the Module Building Teams runs parallel to other Company initiatives, such as the AASE Faculty Scholarship Grant Program, which provide scholars with the support for independent research into bar preparation, further encouraging a ripple effect across law schools.
AASE Faculty Scholars Program
In contrast to their faculty colleagues, the majority of academic support and bar preparation staff do not benefit from dedicated funding or time for research. Due to this reality, the AccessLex | AASE Faculty Scholarship Grant plays a crucial role in fostering the professional growth of scholars in these fields while also cultivating new voices and contributing to scholarship in the field of law school academic support and bar success.
Formed through a partnership between AccessLex Institute and the Association of Academic Support Educators (AASE) in 2021, the grant has sponsored 25 Scholars to date, providing financial support and research mentorship in pursuit of the writing and publication of research articles in the field.
AccessLex is a proud champion of the impressive breadth of Scholars’ research, which has secured publication in numerous legal journals and law reviews. This recognition of the Scholars’ work and their areas of inquiry are a testament to people and ideas that make up the field of academic and bar support.
2025 AccessLex | AASE Faculty Scholarship Grant Recipients
• Michele Berger
Assistant Dean for Academic and Bar Success
Charleston School of Law
Rewiring Legal Education: Teaching Strategies for Students with Traumatic Brain Injuries
• Christopher Engle-Newman
Visiting Assistant Professor of the Practice, Assistant Director of Bar Success
University of Denver Sturm College of Law
Can Asynchronous Learning Teach Law Students to Think Like Lawyers?
• Jeremy Hurley
Assistant Professor of Law, Assistant Director of Career Services, Director of Academic Success and Bar Preparation
Appalachian School of Law
Success in the Middle: Building Programs for Law Students Who Are Neither Failing Nor Thriving
• Antonia Miceli
Professor of Practice, Director of Bar Exam Success Program
Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, Arizona State University
Stop Moving the Bar: How State Practices Undermine Disability Rights in Legal Licensure
• Preyal Shah
Assistant Dean for Academic Success
South Texas College of Law
Houston
Supporting Anxious Law Students: Pedagogical and Institutional Responsibilities in Legal Education
Discovers …
Our mission is to improve access, increase affordability, and enhance the value of legal education. Our research serves our mission.
Research that AccessLex Institute performs and analyzes fosters a clearer understanding of the barriers that prevent historically underrepresented groups from accessing law school. The insights and findings support the development of actionable strategies and advocacy for public policies that enhance law school access and affordability and, ultimately, strengthen the value of legal education.
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AccessLex Legal Education Data Deck
The Data Deck is designed to support the legal education community, policymakers, and other stakeholders by presenting information and trends related to AccessLex Institute’s core principles of access, affordability, and value.
Highlights from the most recent edition illustrate changes in employment outcomes and median salaries for law school graduates. Notable updates include:
• Graduates in the class of 2024 had higher employment rates and received higher salaries than the class of 2023.
• Ninety-one percent of the class of 2024 entered J.D. advantage or bar passage-required employment, up one percentage point from the prior year.
• The real median J.D. salary 10 months after graduation increased by $2,500 in 2024.
• Adjusting for inflation, the median salary among J.D. graduates entering private practice decreased by roughly $10,000 from 2023 to 2024; however, graduates entering private practice continue to outearn their peers in other sectors.
Curriculum Design and Bar Passage: The Impact of Sequencing Doctrinal Courses
Historically, law schools taught certain rule-based, bar-tested subjects as a sequence of two three-credit courses, but recently, some law schools have transitioned to teaching a single course to cover this material.
This research brief examined these trends and tested the hypothesis that schools which sequence learning in foundational courses will have higher first-time bar passage rates than schools that do not. Findings indicate that:
• The proportion of schools sequencing at least one doctrinal course remained relatively unchanged from 2020-24.
• The effect of sequencing courses seems to be mitigated by the school’s jurisdiction (UBE vs. non-UBE). The average first-time bar passage rate for schools that sequence courses in UBE states is approximately four percentage points higher than for those in non-UBE states that sequence courses.
• The effect of sequencing courses also varies by a school’s selectivity. Among less selective schools, sequencing courses is associated with a higher likelihood of first-time bar passage relative to schools of the same selectivity.
• Sequencing one course is associated with lower odds of first-time bar passage, yet sequencing two or three courses is associated with higher predicted odds of first-time bar passage.
Value-Added Model of Bar Passage and Employment Outcomes
Recognizing the many limitations of current metrics for evaluating law schools, a study was performed to examine the value law schools add to their students’ bar passage and employment outcomes.
The study presented a new value-added modeling (VAM) approach, which updated and expanded upon the 2022 paper, “What is Quality? Applying a Value-Added Approach to Measure Law School Quality.” Insights from 189 ABA-approved law schools studied include the following:
• Of the three schools found non-compliant , each has at least one positive value add: Ave Maria School of Law has a positive three- and 10-year value-added score for both bar passage and employment; University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law has a positive three-year employment value-added score; and Vermont Law and Graduate School has positive three-year employment and bar passage value adds.
• Of the 99 schools with a positive three-year bar passage value-added score, 61 also have a positive three-year employment rate valueadded score
• Schools challenging their non-compliant status may use the results of the VAM paper to petition for an extended period of time to come into compliance, based on factors such as their attrition rates, transfer rates, and value add.
Bar Exam Success Analyses and AccessLex | Law School Survey
of Student Engagement Bar Exam Success Initiatives
AccessLex continues to demonstrate its commitment to supporting students and law schools in improving bar exam outcomes through impactful evaluation initiatives, with 60 law schools served thus far through dedicated assessment programs.
As part of the Bar Exam Success Analyses, AccessLex supports law schools in analyzing institutional data to assess the extent to which their students’ academic performance predicts their likelihood of first-time bar exam passage.
A collaborative effort between AccessLex and the Law School Survey of Student Engagement (LSSSE) focused on helping law schools increase bar exam performance, the AccessLex | LSSSE Bar Exam Success Initiative provided schools with empirical insights about how law students’ experiences relate to first-time bar passage. Awarded to law students at LSSSE-participating schools, the $1,000 AccessLex Academic Achievement Award was provided in recognition of academic growth over the course of law students’ studies.
AccessLex Academic Achievement Award Recipients:
Michael Davis, ’23
South Texas College of Law Houston
Vileni Flores, ’23
University of San Diego School of Law
GRANT
AccessLex Grants…
University of Denver
PURPOSE
Pathways to Legal Licensure: Individualized and Comparative Outcomes
University of Colorado Law School Colorado Pre-Law Pathway Partnership
Cooley Law School
Cooley Law School PLEDGE Fellowship Capstone
American University Marshall-Brennan & Street Law
Bowie State University Prelaw Society: Prelaw Pathway Initiative
Jackson State University Bob Owens Pre-Law Center
State Bar of Nevada Nevada Comprehensive Licensing Exam
The NALP Foundation for Law Career Research and Education
U.S. Law School Alumni Employment and Satisfaction: Classes 2022 – 2024 Project
American Bar Foundation Law and Social Science (LSS) Fellowship and Mentoring Program
Southwestern Law School Going Beyond the Numbers with Measures that Matter
Mississippi College of Law Camp Esquire
National Black Law Students Association NBLSA Census Survey Project
Association of American Law Schools
Sponsorship, Research, and Challenge Directed Grant
Seattle University School of Law Central Washington Hybrid Hub Pipeline Initiative Project
University of Cincinnati Precursors to Law Student Success on the NextGen Bar Project
In total, AccessLex has awarded $29.6 million since 2014, including 35 Diversity Pathway
Intervention grants totaling $9.5 million, 15 Bar Success Research/Intervention grants totaling $6.5 million, 37 Fellowship Program grants totaling $2.5 million, one Admission Innovation Project grant totaling $13,952, and 99 grants in other topic areas totaling $6.1 million.
$3,118,723.00
Fellowship PLEDGE
AccessLex Institute partnered with the Southern Education Foundation in 2021 to launch the Professionals in Legal Education Developing Greater Equity (PLEDGE) Initiative, which supports legal educators in fostering inclusive student success.
The PLEDGE Initiative consists of two components:
The PLEDGE Bootcamp is a two-day, in-person training focused on building knowledge and skills related to conducting and interpreting high-quality empirical research. Ten institutions were represented among 20 participants at the Bootcamp, which took place in April at American University Washington College of Law.
The PLEDGE Fellowship is a 14-month professional development program during which Fellows complete a Capstone, taking the form of an empirical assessment of a student success initiative. Fellows receive grant funding to support their Capstone research, a stipend, and funding to subsidize Fellowship travel.
The 2024-25 Fellowship Cohort presented findings from their Capstones at LexCon ’25 in November, with assessments focused on:
• Measuring the impact of participation in a co-curricular program on the development of lawyering skills and professional identity formation among law students;
• Assessing the efficacy of a pre-law program in helping underrepresented students gain law school admission; and
• Piloting methods for promoting and fostering diversity, inclusion, and belonging among law students who serve as peer-to-peer educators.
Fellows from Seattle University School of Law (2022-23 inaugural cohort) leveraged insights and skills gained during the Fellowship to introduce and augment programming aimed at fostering success among first-generation students. The summer 2025 issue of Raising the Bar highlights other examples of how the Fellowship experience is helping Fellows better support their students.
2025-26 PLEDGE Fellows
Brooklyn Law School
Julie Brown – Registrar
Robert Fisher – Associate Director of Bar Preparation
Catholic University School of Law/Howard University School of Law
Shani Butts – Assistant Dean for Admissions (Catholic University)
Tracy Simmons – Associate Dean of Admissions and Student Affairs (Howard University)
Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center
Jennifer Cooper – Assistant Professor of Law
Aimee Self Pittman – Librarian and Assistant Professor of Legal Research
LexScholars by AccessLex® is dedicated to broadening access to law school by providing free resources and guidance to promising aspiring law students whose talent and potential for success may be overlooked by traditional admissions criteria.
LexPreLaw supports participants seeking law school admission by offering instructor-led LSAT prep, admission counseling, financial assistance, and engagement opportunities. More than 100 LexPreLaw alumni have been admitted to law school since 2021.
LexPostBacc prepares aspiring law students for the academic and financial rigors of law school. Participants, called Scholars, are referred to the program by partnering law schools and are exposed to a rigorous 10-month law school prep curriculum. After successfully completing the program, Scholars enroll in the referring school, with the benefit of a scholarship and a stipend. Upon law school graduation, Scholars receive a Helix Bar Review® course at no cost and a bar study stipend.
More than 140 LexPostBacc Scholars have enrolled in law school since 2023, and more than 90% of these Scholars have completed their first year of law school in good academic standing. The first cohort of 43 Scholars will be graduating law school and taking the bar exam in 2026.
New This Year: LexPostBacc Direct
In 2025, AccessLex launched LexPostBacc Direct. This newest LexPostBacc strand allows aspiring law students to be exposed to the 10-month LexPostBacc curriculum, without having to secure a law school referral. The 2025 inaugural cohort consists of 62 Direct Scholars. The goal of LexPostBacc Direct is to help prepare Scholars for law school success while also increasing their chances of gaining law school admission.
With the addition of the Direct strand, the 2025 LexPostBacc cohort was the largest in history and is now the largest program of its kind in the nation
“As a first-generation law student, the legal world is a difficult realm to navigate through alone. ... I encourage students to take advantage of this incredible opportunity so we can continue to see students like us in the legal field.”
MAGALI GONZALEZ LexPreLaw Participant
“Through LexScholars I was able to attend one of my dream schools, Boston College Law School, and further, land a merit-based scholarship by learning how to negotiate!”
ASHMEEN BINDRA LexPreLaw Participant
“LexScholars exceeded my expectations in every aspect. Without the program, I do not believe I would’ve been able to score as high on the LSAT the first time around. I was accepted into every law school that I applied to. I enjoyed the program. I’m extremely grateful that I was selected. LexScholars changed my life.”
IRONESHA JONES LexPreLaw Participant
The Next Evolution
Since the launch of its UBE, California, and Florida courses, Helix Bar Review has continued to set the standard for bar preparation with a student-centered approach grounded in research and learning science. The success of the Helix model has influenced others in the field to adopt similar methods – but none deliver the same depth of innovation and pedagogical integrity that define the Helix Difference.
Helix’s comprehensive, flexible design meets the needs of every type of learner, combining evidence-based study strategies with an intuitive, user-friendly experience. Complex legal concepts are distilled into clear, concise segments, while interactive videos, practice questions, and flashcards are seamlessly interwoven into manageable learning modules – keeping students engaged, motivated, and on track for exam success.
Building on that success, Helix’s research-informed design and accessible pricing have reshaped the bar prep landscape, prompting commercial programs to lower prices and reimagine their offerings. By coupling innovation with affordability and educational integrity, Helix has become the most influential bar review program on the market, leading a shift toward more equitable, effective, and student-driven preparation for tomorrow’s legal professionals.
The Helix Difference results in outstanding pass rates year over year.
Research shows that students who complete their bar review course are far more likely to pass. That’s why Helix designs courses that are achievable, focused on the most essential material, and paced according to realistic study schedules. This clarity helps students stay on track, maintain motivation, and navigate the rigorous path to exam success.
And as the bar exam evolves, Helix continues to lead the way. Helix NextGen, the newest comprehensive course, opens for study in March 2026, ahead of the July exams. Designed specifically for the NextGen UBE and the next generation of lawyers, Helix NextGen builds confidence and competence by refining foundational skills through active learning, practice, reflection, and personal support. Students will engage with integrated question sets, multiple-choice questions, and performance tasks carefully modeled on the actual exam – an approach Helix is uniquely equipped to provide.
Developed by the bar success experts at AccessLex – the NCBE’s selected partner for NextGen UBE practice materials – Helix NextGen was crafted with unmatched alignment to the exam’s framework, focus areas, and integrated approach. Further, it reflects Helix’s core belief that better student outcomes and smarter learning strategies are not just possible: they are essential.
Supporting Students and Law Schools
With law schools and students eager for information about the NextGen UBE, Helix developed and distributed new resources to guide future bar exam studiers through this period of transition.
The Helix Jurisdiction Bar Exam Guide and Jurisdiction Bar Exam Chart provide essential information to help students take the first steps in their bar admission process. Students can then explore more deeply with Helix's licensed Attorney Directors through webinars such as Navigating Bar Licensure and All About the NextGen UBE
To support those retaking the bar, the Helix Retaker Guide offers strategies for structured reflection, steady practice, and self-care – helping studiers reset and chart a clear path forward.
Recognizing the critical role of law school faculty in this transition, the Helix Faculty Guide equips educators with a comprehensive overview of the NextGen UBE’s subject matter and competencies. Its dual purpose is to inform faculty of substantive exam changes and help them assist students in aligning their preparation with the skills tested on the new exam.
Helix’s In-School Programming has also continued to evolve, strengthening relationships with its partner schools and introducing a suite of new learning materials. In fall 2025, Helix debuted its inaugural NextGen UBE courses for 3L students, equipping both schools and students to navigate the transition with confidence.
“Helix provides the tools that you need to succeed! Not only did it help me pass the bar exam, but it also provided the right opportunity to be prepared for practice because of the way it taught. I recommend it to anyone who needs the tools to succeed and know that it will help you to do so if you put in the effort.”
Warren
Wood | University of Wyoming/University of Florida LL.M. Program
Passed the July 2025 UBE
“I was a Helix Champion during law school ... Helix is the best bar review around because, even if you don’t become a Champion, it is a low-cost and high-quality program. I used it for MPRE and bar exam study and got a score well above passing on both. I always recommend it when I talk with law students.”
Matthew Maybon | University of Maine School of Law
Passed the July 2025 UBE
“Helix was amazing! There were a lot of gamification elements to the program that really kept me on track! The graders gave in-depth and very helpful feedback that helped me pass the bar exam on my first try! I’ve been recommending Helix to everyone who has asked, and I’ll continue to do so!”
Luke Stange | University of Missouri School of Law
Passed the July 2025 UBE
“I honestly loved Helix for my bar prep. It was clear, well-organized, and didn’t waste time on unnecessary repetition. The practice questions and detailed explanations were the most helpful. I actually felt prepared and confident when I went into the exam – and passed!”
Samantha Stephens | Willamette University College of Law
Passed the July 2025 UBE
“ I had an excellent experience using Helix. The flexible daily point system was especially helpful in accommodating a busy schedule. I appreciated the structure of the course, which gradually incorporated more independent study time as the program progressed. The inclusion of flashcards and additional MBE questions beyond the core curriculum was a valuable resource. The graded essays were crucial to my preparation, with prompt and detailed feedback. The video lectures were clear and engaging, and the professors made complex concepts easy to understand.”
Josie Rahder | University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law
Passed the July 2025 UBE
Being well-prepared and confident can greatly impact a first-year law student’s academic journey and future success. JDEdge by AccessLex® provides incoming 1Ls with a robust, fully online program designed to build foundational abilities and foster long-term achievement before they even set foot in a law school class.
During the 2025-26 academic year, more than 10,000 students across 100 ABAaccredited law schools benefitted from this free program. With its flexible, yearround format, JDEdge serves spring, summer, and fall cohorts, ensuring both students and administrators have reliable tools for success whenever needed. JDEdge lessons are also utilized by schools to supplement credit-bearing courses during a student’s first semester.
JDEdge continues to advance as a dynamic resource for law schools and their students. This year, the program introduced a refreshed interface on the Ask EDNA!® platform, providing a more intuitive experience for both students and administrators. A new JDEdge Faculty Guide was also developed to help schools maximize the program’s value and increase awareness among their students. Looking ahead, a dashboard feature is slated for launch in 2026, giving administrators real-time access to formatted, branded reports on student engagement and progress.
Through webinars, live instruction, video lectures, and interactive lessons, incoming 1Ls receive the advanced preparation they need in critical areas such as:
• Reading and briefing cases
• Engaging in class
• Note-taking
• Effective post-class strategies
• Strategic studying
With approximately 20 hours of asynchronous content organized into five modules with supplemental resources for use in the first semester, JDEdge demystifies law school and provides the fundamentals for the legal education learning process.
Module One: Introduction to Law School
Module Two: Preparing for Class
Module Three: Preparing for Exams
Module Four: Preparing for Law Practice
Module Five: Moving Forward
Here’s what law students and administrators are saying about JDEdge:
“We tried JDEdge for the first time this year, and I have absolutely no regrets. Our incoming 1Ls showed up to orientation week more confident, more prepared, and more professional. Even the first week of classes felt smoother, and I’m convinced it’s because JDEdge gave them such a strong start. I wouldn’t hesitate to require it again for future students.”
Guion Johnstone | Assistant Clinical Professor/Director of Academic Enhancement and Bar Support Program University of Kentucky J. David Rosenberg College of Law
“Such a great resource and so grateful it’s free to students!”
Randi Edmonds | Director of Student Affairs Indiana University Maurer School of Law
“I am a first-gen law student and had no idea what law school would be like. I was filled with anxiety. JDEdge really helped me understand what law school will look like and what actionable steps I could take before starting law school that would prepare me for it.”
Jordan Pinkstaff | JDEdge Participant University of San Diego School of Law
“The thoughtful and engaging approach JDEdge takes in its materials has given my students vital skills for managing time, preparing for exams, and confidently approaching legal analysis. Their interactive content and videos effectively break down complex concepts while offering practical strategies for excelling in law school. As a first-year academic success instructor, I wholeheartedly recommend their services to any law student seeking to maximize their potential and get an expansive overview of law school success.”
Kelly Rodriguez | Assistant Director of Academic and Bar Success Santa Clara University School of Law
AccessLex Educates and Empowers
AccessLex Institute provides aspiring and current law students – as well as recent graduates – with the essential knowledge and tools to build a strong financial foundation.
In a year marked by seismic shifts in student aid policy, funding, and repayment due to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Company experts stepped up to serve as a vital source of information and support for students and administrators alike. Through one-on-one financial coaching, OBBBA-related webinars, and the development of reliable and accessible sources of information, AccessLex has helped the legal education community understand and navigate these upcoming changes.
AccessLex experts created timely resources in response to emerging needs, including the Guide to Private Student Loans – a resource demystifying the process of comparing and applying for private loans – and the Law Student and Graduate Budget template – an interactive tool to track budgeting and investing needs during and after law school. Informing stakeholders about the student loan landscape and empowering students to make the right financial decisions are pillars of AccessLex Institute’s core mission to increase access, affordability, and the value of legal education.
In recognition of AccessLex Institute’s work promoting financial education and literacy among law students through interactive lessons, live webinars, personalized coaching, and practical financial planning tools, AccessLex received the Excellence in Financial Literacy Education Non-Profit Organization of the Year Award.
November 2024 3L
“AccessLex has been a wonderful resource for me since before I even began law school when their offerings were shared with me as a pre-law student. Now, I am a third-year law student and have benefited greatly from the MAX by AccessLex webinars, year-by-year learning plans, and AccessConnex coaching calls. Coaches have empowered me with personalized information and the confidence to develop a present and future financial plan unique to me. As the first person in my family to attend graduate school, I will utilize what I’ve learned from AccessLex about planning for and managing loan repayment for years to come. I’m grateful that my peers and I have access to such an invaluable resource for law students!
Sara McKenna
MAX by AccessLex Scholarship Winner Northeastern University School of Law
MAXIMIZE YOUR FINANCIAL FUTURE
MAX by AccessLex®, the premier personal finance program for law students used by 190 law schools and tens of thousands of law students since its inception, enjoyed another banner year. The MAX Scholarship Program awarded nearly $400,000 in scholarships and involvement in MAX Madness, the friendly competition amongst law schools to encourage engagement ahead of the MAX Grand Prize Scholarships drawing, nearly doubled since last year. Congratulations to the 2025 MAX Madness Final Four winners:
1. University of North Dakota School of Law
2. University of Dayton School of Law
3. University of Maine School of Law
4. Notre Dame Law School
Expanding the ecosystem of support, Ask EDNA! – the dynamic, all-in-one platform for aspiring and current law students – offers free tools and resources for navigating the path to and through law school.
The AccessLex Law School Scholarship Databank presents law students with access to hundreds of curated, vetted scholarships in a single source they can easily utilize. For students who are ready to take the next step in understanding their financial situation, AccessConnex by AccessLexSM offers free one-on-one coaching calls with AccessLex Accredited Financial Counselors, covering everything from budgeting decisions and credit-building to loan repayment options and long-term savings goals. Supporting aspiring and current law students, as well as recent graduates, the AccessLex Student Loan Calculator is essential for navigating borrowing needs, understanding repayment plans, and identifying consolidation and refinancing options.
Together these resources educate and empower students to make informed financial decisions throughout their law school journey.
“AccessLex is a great resource! I now have a more realistic understanding of where I stand financially, what I need to do to prepare myself, and how to keep track of things so that I don’t get behind financially. Thanks again for everything and keep encouraging students to learn about their finances!”
DARLENE SWEENEY,'26
April 2025 2L MAX by AccessLex Scholarship Winner Roger Williams University School of Law
“Beyond the incredible scholarships you offer to law students, what really stands out is the emphasis you place on financial literacy. While the scholarship is certainly a great incentive to engage with AccessLex programming, in my opinion, the true value lies in the resources and education you provide. Helping students become financially literate and prepared for what is likely the biggest investment of their lives – outside of buying a home – is simply priceless.”
OMAR OCHOA
April 2025 3L MAX by AccessLex Scholarship Winner University of Denver Sturm College of Law
“The financial skills I learned through MAX by AccessLex provided me with a realistic look at budgeting after graduation. I am more confident in my financial choices and no longer have a fear of the unknown, which can often surround finances. Taking advantage of AccessLex Institute’s learning tools prepared me with financial literacy and a blueprint for the steps to take both during and after law school.”
GIANA O’SHAUGHNESSY, ’27
May 2025 1L MAX by AccessLex Hannah R. Arterian Memorial Scholarship Winner University of Oregon School of Law
MEET SOME OF OUR WINNERS:
Aspiring Law Student Support
Getting ready for law school begins long before the first day of class. With a national surge in law school applications, AccessLex invested in helping aspiring law students prepare.
This year, AccessLex enhanced MAX Pre-Law by AccessLex® with a redesigned user experience; a new suite of short, informational videos; and the all-new Step-by-Step Guide to Law School Admissions –a resource designed to help students navigate the admissions process with confidence. To keep students motivated, the MAX Pre-Law Scholarship Program was launched, offering four $15,000 scholarships annually to students who actively use the tool.
In addition, XploreJD by AccessLex® was upgraded to offer a streamlined, mobile-friendly experience. The platform now includes comprehensive data on ABA-approved law schools, with expanded filters for full-time, part-time, hybrid/online J.D. programs, and schools accepting GRE and JD-Next scores –empowering students to make informed decisions about where and how they pursue their legal education.
AccessLex Supports…
AccessLex remains dedicated to supporting law school faculty and administrators through expert-led training, meaningful engagement, and opportunities for collaboration. By investing in initiatives that foster growth, connection, and innovation, AccessLex continues to strengthen the individuals who shape the future of legal education.
This year, the Spring Sync Workshop brought together pre-law advisors and law school administrators for a dynamic exchange of ideas and best practices related to student aid policy, financial wellness initiatives, inclusive advising, and academic success strategies.
In partnership with the Association of American Law Schools, AccessLex hosted a national Convening – The Access Imperative: Strengthening Legal Education Amid Challenges – gathering law school Deans and leaders from across the country. The event provided a timely forum for exploring critical issues shaping the future of legal education.
LexCon ’25 marked a standout moment of engagement within the legal education community. With record-setting attendance, the flagship Conference welcomed law school leaders from across AccessLex member law schools for an enriching experience including compelling keynotes, hands-on professional development, and a wide variety of concurrent sessions – all designed to advance law student success.
AccessLex Tools, Resources, and Programs
A free student loan helpline.
Identify pathway programs for successful admission into law school.
The leading research in legal education today.
Analyze, research, and compare law schools.
Experience the entire law school journey on one powerhouse platform.
Revolutionary bar review. Sharpen your skills for law school.
Hundreds of scholarships and writing competitions – all in one place.
A pathway initiative to increase law school diversity.
Make your voice heard in Washington.
Personal finance for law students.
Prepare for law school.
Crunch your numbers. Know your options.
Find the right law school for you.
LEADERSHIP
Leadership Team
CHRISTOPHER P. CHAPMAN
President and Chief Executive Officer
CYNTHIA CASSITY
Senior Vice President — Strategic Engagement and Chief Operating Officer — Helix Bar Review
DEBRA C. SWARTZ
Senior Vice President — General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer
AARON N. TAYLOR
Senior Vice President, Executive Director — AccessLex Center for Legal Education Excellence®
JAMES CASSITY
Senior Vice President — Corporate Operations and Chief Information Officer
SAMUEL GREENHALGH, JR, CPA
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
DAVID RAMAGE
Senior Vice President and Chief Investment Officer
EVNEET KHURANA Vice President — Marketing and Communications
TIFFANE COCHRAN Vice President — Research
VALERIE YOUNG Vice President — Human Resources
LYSSA L. THADEN Vice President — Operations, Helix Bar Review
JENNIFER M. SCHOTT Vice President — AccessLex Center for Education and Financial Capability®
NANCY CONNEELY Vice President — Policy
Board of Directors
ROBERT K. RASMUSSEN
Board Chair
J. Thomas McCarthy Trustee Chair in Law and Political Science University of Southern California, Gould School of Law
MARY CROSSLEY
Board Vice Chair Professor of Law University of Pittsburgh School of Law
DAVID A. BRENNEN
Board Secretary/Treasurer
Frost, Brown and Todd Professor of Law and Immediate Past Dean University of Kentucky J. David Rosenberg College of Law
CHRISTOPHER P. CHAPMAN
President and Chief Executive Officer
AccessLex Institute
NEEL CHATTERJEE
Co-Leader
King and Spalding’s Intellectual Property Practice
DANIELLE M. CONWAY
Dean and Donald J. Farage Professor of Law
Penn State Dickinson Law
MARK C. DAWKINS
Professor of Accounting, Coggin College of Business University of North Florida
VILAS DHAR
President and Trustee
Patrick J. McGovern Foundation
BRIDGET M. MCCORMACK
President and CEO
American Arbitration Association-International Centre for Dispute Resolution®
RENÉE HUTCHINS LAURENT
Dean
University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law
MAUREEN A. O’ROURKE
Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs
Boston University
AUSTEN L. PARRISH
Dean and Chancellor’s Professor of Law
University of California, Irvine School of Law
AccessLex Institute ® is the leading nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering the next generation of lawyers by improving legal education’s access, affordability, and value. The organization devotes substantial resources to financial education and scholarship programs, while funding and conducting actionable research on the most critical issues facing legal education. AccessLex seeks to increase diversity and expand access to legal education through policy advocacy, research, grantmaking, and data analysis. Its academic success and bar preparation programming – in combination with its affiliate, Helix Bar Review by AccessLex ® – reflect a commitment to increasing first-time bar passage rates nationwide while making bar review more affordable and effective. Member law schools include the nearly 200 nonprofit and state-affiliated ABA-approved institutions. Founded in 1983, AccessLex Institute is headquartered in West Chester, PA.